OpenAI may have been partially responsible for leading the AI revolution with ChatGPT, but the company isn’t done redefining what it means to work with AI. In a new post on Twitter/X, CEO Sam Altman revealed that OpenAI was hiring for the role of Head of Preparedness, a safety leadership position designed to study the emerging risks related to AI. Despite being a huge proponent of AI technology and a leader with controversial takes on the tech of his own, Altman has previously alluded to the risks of AI and its potential to upend life as we know it today.
The AI Preparedness executive role may not have proven its utility just yet, but it is one that many businesses will likely expand on in the coming year. The potential impact of the technology may be more relevant to OpenAI as its very products and services are the ones at risk of causing harm, however, businesses that don’t operate in the AI space but expect to utilize tools and technology should also consider looking into the impact of the tech on the well-being of its employees.
OpenAI’s Head of Preparedness safety leadership role serves as a reminder to prioritize risk mitigation and stay ahead of AI vulnerabilities. (Image: Pexels)
Understanding the OpenAI Head of Preparedness Role and Why AI Risk Mitigation Is an Essential Consideration for 2026
OpenAI’s preparedness team didn’t just come to life in 2025. The team was first established in 2023, set up to assess “catastrophic risks” associated with artificial intelligence. The work performed by the team hasn’t featured strongly in the public eye, but in 2025, with growing concerns around AI chatbots and tools being released without guardrails, there has been considerable discussion on the need for safety and the prevention of harm to users.
From accusations of facilitating self-harm to allegations of simplifying the creation of deepfakes and other misleading content, AI platforms, and ChatGPT in particular, have faced increased scrutiny. Within workplaces as well, AI tools have offered some distinct advantages, but there are concerns regarding cybersecurity, a decline in competency, and signs of sloppy work rising from the dust.
Whether OpenAI’s safety leadership role is one born out of a sense of duty to its users or simply a way to address the allegations with greater ease, the Head of Preparedness role could reshape the company’s approach to tech.
What Does OpenAI’s AI Preparedness Executive Role Entail?
OpenAI’s new Head of Preparedness is expected to “expand, strengthen, and guide” the company’s preparedness program, to ensure that its “safety standards scale with the capabilities of the systems” developed by the organization. According to the organization, the executive will be directly responsible for “building and coordinating capability evaluations, threat models, and mitigations that form a coherent, rigorous, and operationally scalable safety pipeline.”
The AI Preparedness executive role promises to be a challenging one, putting the leader in charge of the company’s preparedness strategy from end-to-end and developing models to address and mitigate the risks of the technology. The risks here don’t just refer to concerns surrounding cybersecurity but the very real threat that the technology poses to mental health and well-being.
To don the role, technical expertise on machine learning and AI is unsurprisingly essential, but it also involves communication skills, high-stakes decision-making, leadership experience, and a sense of familiarity with working under pressure. To manage these responsibilities, the head can be expected to earn $555,000 a year plus equity.
As OpenAI Seeks an AI Safety Head, More Businesses Should Consider Doing the Same
OpenAI’s safety leadership role may come with an unusual title, but regulations and additional precautions in the AI space are much needed. Businesses that are currently releasing AI tools may have a fixed use case in mind, but when services are released without safeguards, the responsibility falls to them. Tech teams designing the products may be able to assist to a degree, but setting a fixed team in place to ensure compliance, safety, and pre-emptive action is essential for any business in any industry.
Organizations that are merely users of AI products can also benefit from establishing an oversight committee to explore how AI is being utilized within the organization. Without set policies in place, the technology can be misused by workers or employed in unpredictable ways that can be hard to undo when discovered. It is easy enough to provide employees with fancy tools and leave them to their own devices; however, such strategies don’t always pan out as intended.
Employee well-being is an employer’s responsibility, and taking charge of disseminating information in relation to this technology and its safe use is a large part of their duties. Over time, the effectiveness of OpenAI’s Head of Preparedness may become more apparent, but the success or failure of a leader in the role should not be the determining factor for other businesses that want to prepare for the AI incursion with greater consideration.
What do you think of OpenAI’s safety leadership position and its relevance to the company’s operations? Share your thoughts with us in the comments. Subscribe to The HR Digest for more insights on workplace trends, layoffs, and what to expect with the advent of AI.
